Animals and Teaching resources for School Camp

The aim is to demonstrate the diversity and uniqueness of animals around the lodge and how to conserve them

This will cover a range of environments and species

1. Easy access to unique and rare animals around the lodge students do not often see in their natural environment
2. Unique to New Zealand characteristics such as gigantism
3. Classification of animals – to understand the relationships between different organisms
4. Practical conservation and pest control

Kauri Snail

Native animals includes

• Kauri Snail – Kauri snailarum
• Koura – in nearby stream
• Weta – weta motels and houses
• Glow worms – in nearby streams
• Eels – in nearby streams
• Bush Earth worms – worm farm
• Note we do not have enough birds to focus on them

Resources includes

1. The ability to view and observe the animals in their natural environment in a manner easy to do from the lodge
2. Work sheets and tasks for the students which can be downloaded
3. Information about the species and its environment
4. Classification of animals

Classifying animals

Why do scientists classify?

Knowing an animal’s group can tell people a lot about that animal, for example: What body parts it has , What it eats, How it lives, How it moves, feeds and or breaths

Animals is in the kingdom classification. All animals are divided into a phylum. Phylum are then divided into Classes, Classes into Orders and so on down.

Species groups are the most detailed. They contain only one type of animal.

Classification groups for at the lodge

The animals we can study

Weta

Weta

We have Weta house and motels by the log pole gate. We have examples of cave wetas and tree wetas.

For more information on weta visit here

For a PDF you can use click here Weta

Kauri snail

We are building a kauri snailarium by the log pole gate. We have several Kauri snails available for viewing.

More information on Kauri Snails here

For a PDF you can use click here Kauri Snail

Koura – Fresh Water Crayfish

Koura – Fresh water Crayfish

Koura are found in all the streams around the lodge. Best looked for at night with a torch; they can be spotted by their glowing eyes.

More info here

PDF available: Koura

Glow worms – Titiwai

Found on the banks of many lodge streams. Look at night when glowing; switch off your torch.

More info here

PDF available: Glow worms

Bush worm

Bush worms

Found throughout the forest. A worm farm is being built near the log pole gate.

More info here

PDF available: Bush worms

Gigantism

We explore why these animals get so big. New Zealand has a range of invertebrates that display island gigantism, including:

• Weta
• Kauri snails
• Eels
• Bush Worms

More info: here

PDF available: Gigantism

Conservation

Understanding the need for pest control is vital to preserve species and reach NZ’s 2050 pest-free target. This age group will lead the campaign in future.

More information and downloads here

Monitoring lines for students

Understanding the need to monitor pests and the animals we want to protect is vital to track success.

We’ve built pest monitoring lines for students using chew and tracking cards and tunnels.

More info: here

Bird call monitoring is also important to measure success over time. More info here